President Trump on Friday denied knowing that the word « Shylock » is seen as an antisemitic slur after using it at a rally in Iowa while extolling the tax perks of his One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
President Trump on Friday denied knowing that the word “Shylock” is seen as an antisemitic slur after using it at a rally in Iowa while extolling the tax perks of his One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“I’ve never heard it that way. To me, Shylock is somebody that’s a money lender at high rates,” Trump told reporters after returning to the White House from Thursday’s rally. “I’ve never heard it that way, you view it differently than me. I’ve never heard that.”
The word derives from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and describes a selfish, greedy and vindictive moneylender who ultimately converts from Judaism to Christianity.
In the play, Shylock infamously calls for a “pound of flesh” from the merchant Antonio if he neglects to repay his loan.
